hilda wrote:Beautiful picture of the baboon in the rising sunlight BluTuna. I wonder what he is thinking of?

The closest I can get to that Butterfly is a female Common Diadem. According to my reference guide, the female mimics African Monarch but has only one black spot on the hindwing, which I cannot really see clearly on this picture. (I'm just trying to identify all kinds of wildlife lately.)

Awesome picture of the six Zebbies drinking water. Interesting picture of the snake skin as well!The Groundscraper Thrush is a stunning sighting with a matching picture!

Your Buffalo pictures are beautiful! And that little one! So very small and defenseless.

Thanks for sharing all these wonderful sightings!

Hi hilda, it looks like he's thinking ummmmmmmmm.

Thanks for the butterfly info, I knew it was something like that. I looked at the other pictures I took but none of them show the hindwing clearly.

I love those zebbie pics - all the stripes lined up!

More little buffs coming up in today's report

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

We got up when we woke up and packed up camp, leaving Balule at around 08:30.

Balule camp is, as usual, beautifully kept by Titus. They have made some concrete water channels though the camp but it seemed otherwise unchanged after the flood except the big shady tree in the bottom left corner is gone.The big problem at Balule at present is the Vervet Monkeys, they are completely out of control and managed to get into our tent by undoing the zip. Caravaners have to lower the tops before they leave or the monkeys will rip holes in the netting to get inside.The broken low-level bridge means that we were restricted as far as drive routes were concerned but a much more serious situation is the detour around the break in the H1-5. They are using the S91/S92 and the H8 and the 'through drivers' are driving the dirt road at 70-80km/h. If SANParks don't do something about it, there is going to me a major pile-up on that road.

While we were packing up, a female Chinspot Batis with a chick were hopping around in the tree above us.

Not much to photograph until we got to Skukuza. At the camp site was a band of Banded Mongooses.

After setting up, we went to Lake Panic for a reconnaissance. The sun was quite low when we arrived but I managed to get a couple of pictures of an African Darter and a Giant Kingfisher.

Back to camp. This is the first time we've ever stayed at Skukuza and it's a bit of a shock, we've gone from one of the quietest camps to a really noisy one. Next door have their bloody TV loud enough to hear that they are watching some soap-opera. Isn't it sad that some people can't leave their TV behind when they go to the bush.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

We went straight to Lake Panic this morning. It has to be one of the most beautiful places in the park.

There were some Hippos in the mist.

And a host of birds.African Jacana.

Malachite Kingfisher.

Tawnyflanked Prinia? Or maybe not.

Black Crakes, two adults and a junior.

African Darter.

We left the hide at around 08:00 and drove to Afsaal via the Byamiti Weir which is open again. Very little to see except this raptor which I say is a Gabar Goshawk but my SO says it's an Ovambo Sparrowhawk.

After consuming the best and most reasonably priced breakfast in the park we headed back to camp and along the way saw another spotted one.

Back at Skukuza I managed to snap of one of the other residents.

Back to Lake Panic again this afternoon.This guy is the boss of his bit of the lake.

I managed to get a sequence of pics that I've always wanted. Here are 3 out of the dozen or so I got.

Then a sudden commotion as two African Darters had a fight over the rights to this end of the lake.

A Grey Heron was flapping about in a tree.

More commotion as several Hippos started charging about.

After the shadows reached across the lake, we took a short drive to the low level bridges. This Fish Eagle was near the bridge over the Sand River.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

Cloudy this morning, clear skies this afternoon, temperature in the high 20s.

This morning we drove the S3 and saw a lot of very dense bush with occasional sightings of the river.We did spy a Crowned Eagle but it flew before I could get my camera aimed at it.We also saw part of a herd of Buffs with lots of young calves.

This next shot was taken in my wing mirror as I didn't want this person to know he was on candid camera (for some reason the camera wouldn't focus properly) - recognise the uniform? Yes it's one of SAPS's finest.

After driving into Hazyview for breakfast we returned via the Kruger Gate and on a plant near the curio shop I saw this huge wasp.

Back at my new favourite spot this afternoon - Lake Panic, a pair of Pied Kingfishers.

A Goliath Heron gingerly climbing down its perch.

A snorting Hippo.

An African Darter in beautiful light.

A Greenbacked Heron with afternoon snack.

And later in perfect light,

We then took a drive along the H3 to the granite dome (I can't read the name of it on our tatty old map).Along the way we met up with an Angryphant who gave us quite a display.

From the top of the dome you can see for miles.

And the last rays of the sun turn the rock red.

Last edited by BluTuna on Fri May 11, 2012 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

Our last full day in the park but what a day! We had some excellent sightings including one that tops all the others for the trip!

Out first thing and up to Granopkop/Mathekayane/Sandflea to catch the sunrise. We were waylaid by a trio of Southern Ground Hornbills so We didn't quite get there before the sun rose but the view was even better than it was last night.

We then continued on thee H1-1 and up the S65 to the S1 and back to Skukuza after detouring to - you guessed it - lake Panic.On the S65 there wasn't much to see util we came across this beauty.

and on the S1 a Gymnogene/African Harrier Hawk. I was a bit confused by the orange face but the book says they flush red when they are excited.

At Lake Panic, a Black Crake and an African Jacana.

Back to Skukuza for some breakfast. In the big fig tree by the river was a Purple Crested Turaco and a Green Pigeon.

Back to the campsite to pack up the tent for the last time. A mantis was on the tent and was easy to see until I put it on a tree.

On the way to Lower Sabie, a Shikra or Little Banded Goshawk,

At Lubyelubye Lions on the rocks.

And a couple of Kms down the road, another Lion.

After we checked in at LS, we went for our afternoon drive - H4-2/S28/S137/S130/H4-2.Near the LS bridge, a Whitecrowned Lapwing.

At Ntandanyathi Hide - after a quick look for the snake - a Hippo was rolling around in small amount of water that is left.

And showing us what big teeth it has.

A little further up the gully, some movement........

What's that? What's that?What's that?WOW!!!!!!!!

Cape Clawless Otter. Only the second time we've ever seen one

At Duke waterhole, a Giraffe against the setting sun.

And as we reached the north end of the S130, I checked for traffic to my left and saw Doggies.

What and amazing day!!!! Big 5, Painted Dogs and OTTER!!!!!

Time to turn in now, have to be up early for our last game drive tomorrow morning.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

The day started with a kill right on the stoep A Gecko got an early breakfast.

We went for a last look at the causeway, then back down to Ntandanyathi Hide but I bet you guessed that!Near the causeway, a Blackwinged Stilt and his reflection.

And a Giant Kingfisher.

The Sun came up across the Sabie River.

On the S28, a Pearl-Spotted Owlet.

With eyes on the back of his head.

Further down the S28 it was a bit misty.

Guess who was still at the waterhole?

After the hide we drove the S137 and the S130 southwards and saw a Crested Spurfowl, some Giraffes and a Burchell's Coucal. We also saw a Cheetah but it was too far into the dense bush to get a picture of.

Back to Lower Sabie along the S82 Mativuhlungu Loop. Male Impalas have been displaying everywhere we went but it seemed that as soon as I pointed my camera at them, they'd get shy and stop what they were doing. I finally managed to catch one in the act.

After we packed the last few things and hooked up the trailer, we headed for Croc Bridge to exit the park after one of their excellent breakfasts.A last look at Sunset Dam and Yellowbilled Stork Leader was up practicing formation flying with his squadron. I think they need more practice.

A LBR doing some stretching.

And last but not least, at Croc Bridge, an Agama in the flowerbed.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie

Many, many thanks to all of those who read this TR and special thanks to those who made comments.

To finish off my TR, I thought I'd publish my own top 10 pictures from the trip.

Starting with Number 10....

10. Cape Clawless Otter - Included Just because it's a picture of an Otter not for its composition - after little bit of photoshop magic.9. Roan Antelope - Nice light on an unusual animal.8. Spotted Bush Snake - Not often that I get close enough for this sort of shot.7. Painted Dog - Another nice portrait in good light.6. Hyaena - Difficult picture to get.5. Giant Kingfisher - A fluked shot but I like it.4. Elephant - This was quite a touching moment, these two are obviously old friends or relatives.3. Elephant - I love the the look of outrage on this youngster's face.2. Impala - A really difficult picture to get especially from a car. Perfect light, perfect pose.1. Pied Kingfisher. I was hoping for the opportunity to take some pictures of a hovering pied Kingfisher. I had to be on the ball as it only hovered for about 3-4 seconds. Here are all 12 pictures I shot in an animated GIF file.

15-17 November 2013, day visitor at Croc Bridge gate.18 November 2013, Lower Sabie